Refrigerating apparatus.



C. E. BACHMAN.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION F|LED SEPT. 1. 1914.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

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C. E. BACHMAN.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1914.

1,174,221; Patented Mar. 7,1916. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WITNESSES INVENTOFI CLARENCE E. BACHMAN, or PITTSBURGH MACHINE COMPANY, or PITTSBURGH,

SYLVANIA. 1

Application filed September 1, 1914. Serial N n. 859,661.

To all whom it mayconoern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. BACH- MAN, a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Refrigerating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus, and particularly to apparatus of the continuous circulation type.

The object of the invention is to provide refrigerating apparatus which is very. efliirrespective of pressures or temperatures, which is self-regulating, and WhLCh controls the flow of the refrigerant in such manner as to always maintain a flooded condition in the brine cooler or refrigerator, and which apparatus is simple, is readily controlled or adjusted, and is not liable to get out of order when-inservice. v

The invention comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, which represent one embodiment of the 1nvention,. Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a complete refrigerating system; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation through the 'brine cooler or refrigerator; and Fig. 3 is a detail view corresponding to Fig. 2 and showing a modification,

The refrigerating apparatus shown in the drawings comprises a pump or compressor 1, which may be of any suitable type, and which receives the refrigerant, such as ammonia or other suitable substance, in gaseous form from the refrigerator, and compresses the same. This compressor delivers :a stream of'compre'ssed refrigerant through the conduit 2 to a'suitable condenser 3, shown as a large tank provided with caps or covers 4 at its opposite ends and having suitable coils 5 therein'provided with connections6 for passing therethrough the cooling medium, such as cold water. 2 is preferably placed a suitable oil trap 7 of any type for collecting and holding back any oil or foreign material discharged by the compressor and preventing the same from passing through the condenser with the refrigerant. The condenser 3 liquefies the refrigerant in the usual manner, the liquid passing from said condenser through Specification of Letters Patent.

.cient, which operates at maximum efficiency In the conduit I a suitable conduit 8 to the refrigerator 9,

PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BARRETT REFRIGERATIN G APPARATUS.

Patented Mai. 7, 1916.

are located one or a plurality of brine coils 1 1 communicating with the hollow space 15 within the cover 12 and from which coils the brine is delivered at the lower end of the refrigerator to a conduit 16 which'conducts it to the place where the refrigerating effect is to be produced. The liquefied refrigerant coming from the condenser 3 by way of the conduit 8 passes through a coil 17 located in the upper portion of the tank 10. The outlet end of the coil is at its top, so that the 0011 prevents the accumulation of gaseous refrigerant therein and allows the liquid refrigerant to collect and discharge from said c011 continuously without foaming. The

upper end of the coil 17 communicates with a T hollow casing 18 attached to the cover 11. Said casing, in the form shown, is a tube provided with a bottom tubular extension 19 whose lower end is provided with a bushing 20 having one or a plurality of small ports or openings 21 therethrough, and also pro vided with a central opening for a valve stem 22, which slides therein. The upper end of the extension 19 is provided with a bushing'23 whose upperface is, provided with an annular valve seat 24 to 'cotiperate with a valve '25 on a valve rod 26 threaded into a tubular member 27 attached to the cover plate 11 said valve rod' extending througha suitable packing 28 in the cap 12 and being provided with an operating handle 29 lying outside of the tank 10. The

lower end of the valve rod 26, beneath the valve 25, is provided with a longitudinally extending passage 30 communicating through a laterally extending valve 25 may be lifted from its seat to allow port or opening 31 with the chamber 32 within the casing 18 and into which the liquid refrigerant lower portion 19 of the casing 18, or to cut off entirely the flow of refrigerant.

The lower end of the valve rod 26 is countersunk, as at 33, to provide a valve seat for cooperation with a needle valve 34 on the upper portion of the valve stem 22. Suitable means is provided for causing the needle valve to be controlled by the liquefied refrigerant in the brine cooler and preferably in accordance with the level of liquid therein. In the form shown in Fig. 2 the valvestem 22 is provided with an abutment 35 beneath which is located a compression spring 36, the lower end of which rests on the bushing 20 and which spring tends to close the needle valve. The valve stem is also connected in any suitable manner to a suitable pan or receptacle 37, which is larger than the casing 19 and surrounds the same, and is shown as attached directly to the lower end of the valve stem. The bottom of this receptacle is closed and its upper end is open. The refrigerating tank 10 is also provided with communication to a conduit 38, through which the evaporated refrigerant is returned to the compressor 1 and condenser 3 to be again liquefied and passed through the system. I

'The apparatus described operates as follows :Let it be assumed that liquefied refrigerant has been introduced into the brine cooler to bring the level of refrigerant therein up to the line A, Fig. 2, which is the normal level of refrigerant in the cooler during operation. To start the system the valve rod 26 is turned in the proper direction to lift the valve 25 from its seat until the lower or seat end of the valve rod 26 is alsolifted from the needle valve 34, as will more fully hereinafter appear. The pump having been started, liquid refrigerant then flows through the coil 17 into the chamber 32 and through the port 31 and passage 30 into the lower extension 19 of the casing 18, from which it is discharged through the ports 21 into the receptacle 37. The discharge continues until the receptacle 37 is full of liquefied refrigerant, when the weight of the receptacle and the refrigerant therein acts in opposition to the spring 36, and lowers the needle valve 34. The valve rod 26 is then lowered until the valve seat 33 is practically in contact with the needle valve. As the brine circulating through the coils 14 gives up its heat to the liquid refrigerant, the latter is evaporated and passes out through the conduit 38 to the compressor 1 and the level of refrigerant in the tank 10 lowers. The weight of refrigerant in the receptacle 37 (which is always full) lying above the level of the refrigerant in the tank 10 increases, so that the needle valve is opened a little farther and allows an additional supply of liquid refrigerant to pass through the valve and into the receptacle 37, from which it overflows into the tank 10. If the rate of absorption of heat from the brine coils 14 is retarded from any cause the level of liquid in the tank 10 rises and decreases the effective weight of the receptacle and its contents, so that the effect of the spring 36 increases and the needle valve is partly or wholly closed. In operation the position of the needle valve is automatically regulated by the conditions in the brine cooler, said valve opening as the rate of cooling of the brine increases, and closing as it decreases.

The operating handle 29 performs three functions. In the first place, it is a controlling handle, as it operates the valve 25, by means of which the flow of refrigerant through the system'is either permitted or may be cut off entirely. Secondly, it may be used to adjustthe position of the needle valve seat and the effective pressure of the spring 36. By raising the valve rod 26 the total effective upward pressure of the spring 36 is diminished, so that it requires a higher level of liquid in the tank 10 to close or partly close the needle valve. 'Handle 29 may therefore be utilized to adjust the amount of liquefied refrigerant in the brine cooler, and also to take care of variation in the spring should it weaken from any cause.

Thirdly, it may be used as an emergency eX- pansion valve to maintain the system in operation in case the needle valve fails to work or the passages 31 and 30 become clogged or choked for any reason. For this purpose one side of the lower end of the valve rod 26 is preferably flattened or grooved, as at 40, either by filing or in any other suitable manner. By elevating the valve rod 26 until the upper end of the groove 4:0 is above the upper end of the bushing 23 an open passage is provided through said bushing, so that the refrigerant will flow irrespective of whether the needle valve is operating or not.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified form of the invention embodying a different arrangement of means for controlling the needle valve which regulates the fiow of refrigerant through the system. In this form of the invention the needle valve stem 22 is connected in any suitable manner to a suitable float, such as'the hollow sphere 37. which is shown as attached to the lower end of the valve stem, it being understood that the weight of the needle valve stem and ball is greater than the upward pressure of the spring 36. No hollow pan or receptacle is used, and the refrigerant is discharged from the openings 21in the bushing 20 at the bottom of the casing 18 directly into the refrigerant held in the tank 10. With this form of the invention, as the level of liquid in the tank 10 rises, ball 37 floats thereon,

its buoyancy, and the pressure of the spring 36 moving the needle valve toward closed position. If the level of liquid in the tank 10 lowers the ball float drops with the liquid, since its weight and the weight of the valve stem become more effective as the buoyancy of the float decreases, and overcomes the pressure of the spring 36, thereby opening the valve. The operation in all essential particulars is the same as that of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2.

The apparatus described has the advantage that it always operates at the point of maximum efficiency. The brine cooler is always flooded with liquefied refrigerant, so that a maximum cooling effect is produced at all times. The needle valve, which regulates the flow of refrigerant through the system, is controlled by the'level of liquefied refrigerant in the brine cooler, so that the system operates and is regulated automatically irrespective of the conditions of pressure and temperature in the system.

The apparatus is simple, is easily manipulated, and is not liable to get out of order in service.

What I claim is:

1. Refrigerating apparatus, comprising a receptacle for the refrigerant, a manually operated valve arranged to control the flow of refrigerant through said receptacle, said valve having a stem provided with a passage therethrough for the refrigerant and a valve seat at the end of said .passage, a valve 00- operating with said seat, and means arranged to control said second named valve in accordance with the level of refrigerant in the receptacle. I

2. Refrigerating apparatus, comprising a receptacle for the refrigerant, a manually operated valve arranged to control the flow of refrigerant through said receptacle, said valve having a stem provided with a passage therethrough for the refrigerant and a valve seat at the end of said passage, a valve 00- operating with said seat, and automatic means operated by the refrigerant in saidrefrigerator for controlling the flow of refrigerant through the said receptacle.

3. Refrigerating apparatus, comprising a receptacle for the refrigerant, a manually operated valve arranged to control the flow of refrigerant through said receptacle, said valve having a stem provided with a passage therethrough for the refrigerant and a valve seat at the end of said passage, a 'valve cooperating with said seat, and means arranged to rise and fall with the refrigerant in said receptacle and connected to said second named valve and arranged to open and close the same as the level of refrigerant in the receptacle falls and rises. p

4. Refrigerating apparatus, comprising a receptacle for the liquefied refrigerant, a hollow casing within said receptacle, means for conducting the refrigerant to the chamber within said casing, a valve governing the flow of refrigerant from said chamber to the space within said receptacle, means arranged to control said valve in accordance control said valve in accordancewith the level of the refrigerant in said receptacle, and a manually operated valve adapted to control the flow ofrefrigerant to said first named valve, said manually operated valve having a stem extending to the outside'of said receptacle. 6. Refrigerating apparatus, comprising a receptacle for holding the liquefied refrigerant, a hollow casing within said receptacle, a conduit extending from the outside of said receptacle to said casing and communicating with the .chamber therein for conducting refrigerant thereto, said conduit having a portion within the space in said receptacle, a valve governing the flow ofrefrigerant from said chamber to the space within said receptacle, and means arranged to control said valve in accordance with the level of the refrigerant in said receptacle.

7. Refrigerating apparatus, comprising a receptacle for holding the liquefied refrigerant, a hollow casing within said receptacle,

a conduit communicating with the chamber in said casing for supplying refrigerant. conduit including a coil lying thereto, said within the space in said receptacle,.a valve governing the flow of refrigerant fromsaid chamber to the space within said receptacle, and means arranged to control said valve in accordance with thelevel of the refrigerant in said receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

CLARENCE E. BACHMAN. Witnesses:

- WILLIAM B. WHARTON, GLENN H. Lrmnsonn. 

